Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-12
les Gil. NG'S ROMANCE.


EEszItode of the Chinese in New York than
wife Lee Chung. the Chinese "art penman"
Tlzis was his high sounding title in the
G.rs,uoge of Confucius. 1t was not exactly
,,IR-ry.s.t as the almond eyed race never uses
u CNs2, but writes, figures and draws with but
ilSae implement, the brush. With the cameFs
{y-.ir Esencil Lee was an artist. He designed
Vrc-1.o MINES for funeral festivities, memo"
Slcl curd5 for dclunct ancestors and illustrated
rsraysr0 to Duddha for fathers who desired
.tSi-1, which were considered masterpieces
,tag L1r penman's art and which brought fabu
5eri@ y6-ices for their maker in Quantung and
Irrgzn distant Foo-Chow
Clar world went well with the little artist
Tla md goodly bank account with Euct
es5,2r. Che rich banker, and large roll of bills
1M E2oe stem of a bamboo pipe in his work
4'elaql All day long his merry voice was
i.zEa, IN the building, sometimes intouing
Mt queer love songs of the Orient and some
y5u:Hs singing in the shrill falsetto of China
&a ballads and poems of his home.
IN The floor above the artist lived a young
.-.cl named Bella Jones. She was a country
571 VINO had come to New York to seek
s-5Ioe, and who. forced by necessity into
m terrible but inexpensive life of the Sixth
iyA-d tenements had gradually learned their
tsJgrUage, ways and ideas.
A1-'- ~ 10 NtI1 lltliO' I1dl ~ bliNh eyes
.5A~sy brown hair, good features, an olive
..s,s,n plexion and a trim figure made up
.sc2srrc that was always admired by the
rs g,hbcrhoud And she was not bad at heart.
GGu atmosphere of Mott street may have
s.yfsG-tpd and even killed much of her spiritual
',,sAs,7e, but there still lay in her heart warm
aEass-Cn geniahtv hope and ambition. The
AHlh-rlon was not of n high order; it was
NrE.rdy to become the wife of diamond
harry" the ideal young man of her social
,ir-.Ia.
The gentleman with the meteorological name
ness clDe of those types that appear only in the
-Ti.l cities. He was handsome, well dressed,
81, SrrGc talker and always had money in album
g-I1ce 10 was generous and high spirited,
-oiad seemed in every way to belle the vague
-P'.2ispers TO his dscredit that occasionally
,.&ched Bella's ears. He liked Bella, and had
slsEa her to the theatre once and once to
LsSeY Island The days on which these events
7s9@a-red We're to the infatuated girl glimpses
81 that paradise which long she had believed
With all her heart.
Bella had often seen the artist but beyond
sgssaking few words, and once in mischief
aGgCWing him a kiss, had given him no
stf'u5ht. One evening as she entered the
NM door lee Chung stepped forward, shook
gs!s awn hands violently, and said:
Bella, you like silk
~ henever can get it, Lee, she answered.
80 think. Give you this Like You vely
zanch." and, placing package in her hand,
-sz--aed and disappeared in his rooms Curious
Al Know its contents, she hurried to her apart
lra.ERts, where she kept house with two other
.5tr!e. and opened the bundle. There Law q
slszlts Chinese silk shawl, embroidered in gold
asni barbarc cOlors much like those she had
ND oil ~, d.
II Broadway. A little scream Of delight
1sUoght her roomiuates to her side, and for
IL. loour the trio passed their time in trying
5ER3 shawl on, ore after another, in every style
s1E,osivable
$50 began Lee Chung's courtship. 1t was a
orange experience to the woman, but not an
Eraleasant one. The little artist apparently
;sstal ght for hours how he could please or
aG,eiit her. One day he would send her pot
ri flowers, Inc next day pair of stockings.
tAnsn there came a fan and thereafter an as.
7GT1mept Of provisions.
Once, when passing his room, the well
vVsf1i sole of her shoe caught splinter in the
&cor and she nearly fell The next evening
new pair of French boots were gravely
ADDED her by her lover. By degrees she be-
sz.2 IT. like him His courtesy, tact and gen
'sI-@tY were rare to one in her station, and
IL Tho more agreeable, as Diamond Harry
Kzs neglecting her for other girls in the
.ozlGhhorhood, and an involuntary contrast
H-iie in her mind between the Caucasian and
.,e Aongolian admirer. Though it was not
W. she former s favor, she still cung to him
plIG Tie blind persistcncy of her sex.
tbe evening she returned home in rage
lt1alnegs was bad the factory where she
-ecrsad running on half time, and to make
7i--lteTs douby worse, Harry, who had prom
ssa3 10 take her to Niblos that evening, had
Isl sent word that he had changed his mind
shd was going to take her chief rival While
IL. vas IN this mood there came a tap on the
zna-. She called to the visitor, Come in!'
&as j1or opened and Lee entered.
= do, Bella!"
-'l-~y we'll, Lee Take a chair and be
s1mtQrtable"
Thank you;' but before sitting he pro.
7saoed from within his blouse a bouquet, a
aa4 OF candy and package of cigarettes all
II which he laid tenderly in her lap He
s&f down smiling at her, and after minutes
sSasGce said:
Bella, you velly good gal velly pletty,
7elly nice, Me love you velly much Ne
good enough man. have good business; make
tasci If money got more than five Thousand
3a.l. .. Me give it all to you. You be my
wis
Bella thought for moment and said that
ala would. On the following day, half re-
sXaciul at the engagement, and still vexed
ei& Diamond Harry, She met the latter on
4as5 street, and chiefly from spite told him the
asSE He removed the cigarette from his
EgI and cooy remarked: THAT'S a good
e q, Bella; | congratulate you He's very
e a chink and has got the dust Just you
~ nm for it as quick possible It's going
r. a cold winter for all of us, and you'll be
fixed TO take care of us if luck is bad"
:-" was about to say something, but
'-sta .ded pride and rage overmastered her
pSesr Of speech. She turned with a sneer
gyy3Cten across her face and left him.
Ttle wedding was celebrated in good Mott
Etrfa5 style, beer, sandwiches, whisky and
cake for American friends and sherry, ing
Es-peh, nooncakes, stewed chicken and cigar
~. l.!.;,.,. aLl - I.lI.. E-;.. /